Music News

The UNO Jazz All-Stars paid a lunchtime visit to Vista Shores Assisted Living Community on Bayou St. John to play an hour-long concert for the residents. Our special friend Miss Peggy Saavedra was unable to attend, but we were thrilled to have Harold Battiste in the house, celebrating his 83rd birthday and providing musical inspiration. Along with Ellis Marsalis, "Mr. Batt" was one of the original faculty in our Jazz Studies program, part of an internationally-recognized career that also included founding AFO Records, producing recordings by Sam Cooke and serving as music director for the Sonny and Cher Show. The band included J.P. Smith on guitar, Robin Sherman on bass, Miles Berry and Ricardo Pascal on sax, Russell Ramirez on trombone, Jonathan Bauer on trumpet, Peter Varnado on drums, and Prof. Victor Atkins III on piano.

WWNO and National Public Radio bring an all-star cast to New Orleans for the debut of "Water," a theatrical radio production making its national premier at the Saenger Theatre on Saturday, October 26. While in New Orleans, the production team and cast, including well-known announcer Michelle Norris (third from left) , are hard at work rehearsing in the PAC Recital Hall.

Tabla master Badal Roy demonstrated his musical magic for a packed house at the Sandbar at the Cove on Wednesday, October 22. Accompanying Roy, who played with Miles Davis and other musical greats, are UNO students Fernando Sanchez on guitar and Andrew Coker on bass. Next week's artist is Latin pianist Jorge Pacheco.

UNO Music students will showcase their work in two special performances Monday, October 20. A student showcase in the Performing Arts Center from 3-4 pm features works ranging from a Haydn trumpet concerto to original new works by contemporary student composer Maggie Adams and Cuban percussion star Alexey Marti. As the day winds down, the Truancy Kings, UNO's student rock ensemble, will take the stage at the Sandbar at the Cove student center from 5:15 to 6 pm. All are welcome. For more information, call 280-6381.

Former UNO Music student Darren Hoffman and partner Kristen McEntyre have been named one of the 2014 top "People to Watch" by New Orleans Magazine. While at UNO, Darren began developing an interactive music learning software, the Tutti Music Player, that allows students to interact with top musicians and customize the learning process. Darren filmed much of the initial core program in the UNO Music Department's Studio 103 with musicians including Shannon Powell, Roland Guerin, Lucien Barbarin, Jason Marsalis, Ed Petersen, and Steve Masakowski. He later added Jason's older brother Wynton to the mix and worked closely with Jazz at Lincoln Center to refine the educational software and support its use in JALC educational programs. Todd Stoll, vice president of education for Jazz at Lincoln Center, told the Times-Picayune that the Tutti program is "basically one of the most transformational uses of technology I've ever seen."

Join the 9th Ward Opera Company for a musical tribute to its founding members Dr. Kathleen and James Westfall, who are leaving New Orleans for new careers in Nashville. Kathleen (soprano) and James (vibraphone) are both UNO alumni and have also served on our adjunct faculty. The concert begins at 7 pm in the PAC Recital Hall, and will feature Spanish, Cuban, and Mexican selections performed by Kay White, Jesse Reeks, and the Westfalls. For more information, call 504-280-6381 or email kathleengwestfall@gmail.com.

The celebrated Jazz at the Sandbar concert series opens the Fall 2014 series with UNO professor emeritus and jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis on Wednesday, October 1 at 7 pm. Jazz at the Sandbar offers UNO students a unique opportunity to play on the bandstand with experienced professionals in a club setting. Music begins promptly at 7. All shows are free to the UNO community (with ID) and $5 for general admission. The Sandbar also offers food, beverages, and adult libations for purchase. For more information call 504-280-6381. The Fall 2014 lineup also includes:

It's showtime! Jazz Studies alumnus Jamal Batiste portrays drummer John "Jabo" Starks in the wide-release film "Get On Up," the story of James Brown. Normally busy with his bands The Honorable South and Unorthodox Drummer, Jamal took time out to attend open auditions a few months back - and ended up being cast in the movie as one of funk's most notable groove masters. Jabo Starks is credited with many of the Godfather of Soul's signature - and often sampled - beats. The movie opened in early August.

The UNO Department of Music has received a $10,000 grant from the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation to support the department’s JazzEd Jazz Educational Outreach Program.

The 11-year-old program’s mission is to improve musical performance skills and understanding of jazz by providing additional instruction in the Orleans Parish public schools. UNO JazzEd teachers have worked in several area schools, most recently McDonough 35 and Warren Easton, directing jazz ensembles and teaching theory and jazz history basics. Teachers include current and recent UNO students, including clarinetist Gregory Agid and saxophonist Calvin Johnson, Jr.

The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, based in New York, was a pioneer supporter of the program. The program is also supported by Jazz at Lincoln Center through that organization’s Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund, which benefits musicians and music industry-related enterprises....

MM student Shawn Myers has been named the 2014-15 ASCAP Louis Armstrong Scholar. The $3,000 award is made to a graduate student in Jazz Studies who demonstrates excellence in composition. A California native, Shawn attended Interlochen Arts Academy and Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, and chose UNO for his graduate studies in jazz. He focuses on original works, and took first place in UNO’s 2014 Ernest and Shirley Svensen Jazz Composition Competition.

In December, Shawn will be honored at the ASCAP Foundation’s annual award ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. The scholarship is supported by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.

Find out more about ASCAP awards and scholarships here. http://www.ascapfoundation.org/programs/scholarships/louis-armstrong-scholarship-university-new-orleans.aspx